Coupler



Jan. 9, 1934- E. P. KINNE Er AL COUPLER Filed Sept. 7, 1928 4 Sheets-Shes?l 1 I y WW/7075 H if@ @y KVM Jan. 9, 1934- E. P. KINNEl ET AL.

COUPLER Filed Sept. '7. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheetl 2 kw#l 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Jan. 9, 1934. E. P. KINNE ET Ax.

COUPLER Filed sept. 7, 1928 WA@ www 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 COUPLER E. P. KNNE ET AL,

Filed Sept. '7, 1928 j2me/22% ffl/8mm@ Jan. 9, 1934.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,942,759 CoUPLEa Edmund P. Kinne an'd'Frank H. Kayler, Alliance,

Ohio, assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 7, 1928.` Serial No. 304,4'16

16 Claims.

This invention pertains to draft rigging for railway rolling stock, and more particularly to that class of draft rigging especially designed for application to the underframes of railway cars, and includes in combination with car sills, means for connecting a coupler to the draft mechanism and for connecting the draft mechanism-to the car underframe.

It is an object of this invention to provide in combination a vertical key connection adapted to permit relative movement betweenthe yoke and the coupler, means for supporting and guiding at least one of the followers, and means for limiting the forward movement'of one of said followers.

Another object is to provide a draft rigging so constructed and arranged as to transmiteX- cessive loads to the car underframe without det-- riment to the latter, said draft rigging including a; vertical key connection between the coupler and the yoke, a horizontal key connection between the yoke, follower and draft sills, and means fo transmitting stresses to the draft sills.

Still another object is to obtain a strong and serviceable radial shank connection in the simplest possible manner, one which will have the least possible surfaces subject to wear which Vresult in slack in the connection; one in which4 radial (or angling) action of the coupler shank is provided for while maintaining equalized pull on the yoke jaws in tension, and full butt end contact area and equalized pressure on Vdraft gear or follower under bui'ing stresses. Y

Yet another object is to provide a construction wherein the pivotal action between the coupler` and yoke is provided for by the same pieceV which connects them for pulling action, that is, the vertical key, wherein there are no superuous connections with keys or small bearing pieces and wherein the vertical key is of ideal design to provide large bearing surface, free pivotal aetion and large area to resist shearing. y

A further object is to provide a construction wherein generous bearing area is provided at key bearings and butt bearings insuring minimum wear, and wherein large sectional areas intension, compression and shear are also provided.

Still further object of the arrangement is to provide a construction in which the coupler angles freely regardless of the compression in the draft gear to thereby permit coupling on'curves'V without delay or effort and in order to eliminate transmission of the side movement to the coupler key to thereby avoid wear of the'key and (Cl. 21S- 71) keyways and to prevent or other-key fasteners.

Yet further object is to provide a couplerv refV 'A taining the advantages of the standard'A. R. Af coupler and one which includes anr efficient guide '60 to maintain the coupler shank in properpositioh, adequate provision for vertical angular movement y without pinching the key in either the coupler or yoke, positive emergencyconnection in theu event of yoke or draft gear breakagegremoval165 and replacement of coupler and draft gearwithjout taking down the entire draftvattaeh'ments, y and-also toV provide an arrangement which in-- l cludes all of the advantages claimed'for Athewso' f called swivel butt arrangement, and includes additional advantages such'as greater simplicity, A increased strength and increased bearing surfaces; l l

Anotherfurther objectl is to providea'conf' struction which is inexpensive to make andrnain-` tain and one which fulfills all requirements of manufacture and service,'and which also is read ily replaceable by parts of standard construction without material changes in the car or draft alp-*- pliance. i v8() A further additional object is'tov provide a' coupler construction 'having the advantage of the radial coupler'co'nnection,though the con! u struction may be applied `to cars built for theA VFarlow attachments''whether a horizontal oi' vertical plane yoke be used. With these and various other objects in View, the invention nriay'consistv ofV certainnovel features of construction and voperation as Iwill be mo-re fully describedand particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. y

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodi l ment of' the` device and wherein like reference l characters are used to designate like parts!- g5 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional top plan view of one form of the draft appliance in operative position -withrespe'ct to the draft sills;Y Figurev 2' 'is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the'dr'a'ft appliance illustrated in `Figure if Figure 3 is a longitudinalsectional vtop plan' View of a modifiedV form 'of draft appliance illustrated` in vFigure 11; y

Figure "4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation f of thev draft appliance illustrated in Figure 3f Figure-Sis a --longitudinal sectionalftop plan K view Vof vanother modified yform of draft appliance'illustratedin Figure l;l A

Figure 6 is va :longitudinal sectional elevation v of the draft-appliance illustrated in -Figure v5; 110

any blows on the cotter Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional top plan view of the draft appliance illustrated in Figure 5, illustrating said assembly with the standard coupler applied in place of the coupler which is part of the subject-matter of this invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view showing a modified form of yoke rear end, the same being adapted to be used in place of the rear end illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an end view of the yoke illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of the form of yoke rear end illustrated in Figure 8.

Referring first of all to the modifications illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate a form of horizontal plane yoke, draft sills 11, of any form such as I-beam or channel sections, are apertured or interrupted to receive portions of the cheek plates 12 secured -thereto as by rivets 13, said cheek plates having keyways 14 and 15 provided therein and being preferably formed with an integral inwardly extending lug 16 adapted to abut a portion of the `draft sills in order to more effectively transmit stresses from the coupler to said draft sills. The forward keyway 15 cooperates with and is completed by a portion of the striking casting 17, which striking casting may be secured as at 18 to end sills 19 and the floor 4'7, and may be provided with a bearing 20 for supporting the coupler shank 21 of the coupler member 22.

Back stop casting 23 may be provided between the draft sills 11 and secured thereto as by rivets 24, the same being preferably adjacent the cross bearers or bolsters 25. Straps or carry irons 26 may be secured to the lower flanges of the draft sills in order to more properly support the draft gear. A yoke 27 is provided which is of the horizontal plane type, said yoke being shown as formed with a solid back rear end 28 as though the rear follower were cast integral therewith. The yoke is provided with keyways 29 disposed in way of the keyways 14 and adapted to receive the key 30 disposed through the follower 31 to support said follower in operative position with respect to .said yoke, it being understood that the usual draft appliance is disposed between the follower and the back rear end of the yoke and that suitable locking means 48 may lock the key in operative position. Ihe yoke at its forward part is hooded as at 32 and provided with elongated vertically disposed apertures 33 and 34, the rear portions 35 and 36'of said hood being preferably formed with sloping portions adapted to receive a portion of the follower 31, it being noticed that the follower is substantially trapezoidal in side elevation, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, and cooperates with the portions 35 and 36 whereby the same is properly positioned in its cooperating relation with coupler shank 21. Y

The follower is provided with substantially flat vertical portions 3'? conforming substantially to the side of the yoke in order to have proper sliding movement with respect thereto. The forward portion of the follower is provided with an arcuate shaped member 38 adapted to have cooperative engagement with the complementary arcuate portion 39 formed on the shank 21 of the coupler member 22, said shank being formed with an elongated keyway 40 adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped key 41, substantially filling said hole, said key being disposed in the vertically disposed keyways 33 and 34 of the hooded portion of the yoke, the key being of such proportions, compared to the keyways 33 and 34, that relative movement may be had between the yoke and the coupler. The lower portion of the hood is provided with a cage or housing 42 depending below said yoke and provided with facing flanges 43 and 44, said flanges being adapted to support a key retaining locking plate 45 adapted to be warped through the aperture between said fianges and locked in place on said flanges by means of a removable key 46.

It will be noticed that in operation of said coupler, in draft the stresses are transmitted through the coupler shank to the yoke through the pin 41, moving the yoke forward until the rear end of the keyway 29 contacts the key 30 or until the stresses are transmitted through the draft gear through the follower 31 to the key 30 thence to the draft sills through the cheek plates 12. In buff, the stresses are transmitted through the coupler shank 21, causing relative movement of the coupler and key 41 with respect to the vertical keyways 33 and 34, compressing the draft gear through the follower 31 until the key 30 substantially contacts the rear end of the keyways 14, thereby transmitting the stresses through the cheek plates, their fastenings and the lugs 16 to the draft sills, and it will readily be appreciated that due to the complementary arcuate faces 38 and 39 on the follower and coupler, that no matter what the position of the coupler, a maximum bearing area is provided between the coupler shank and the follower to more properly transmit the bufng stresses to the draft sills without unduly stressing any one part of the draft appliance.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, again the assemblage may consist of draft sills 11 apertured to receive portions of the cheek plates 12 secured thereto as by rivets 13, said cheek plates having keyways 14 and 15 provided therein and formed with the integral inwardly extending lugs 16 adapted to abut a portion of the draft sills in order to more effectively transmit stresses from the coupler to the draft sills. The forward keyway l5 cooperates with and is completed by a portion of the striking casting 17, which may be secured as at 18 to the end sills 19 of the floor 47, said striking casting being providedwith any convenient form of bearing 20 for supporting the coupler shank 21 of the coupler member 22. Back stop casting 23 may be provided between the draft sills 11 and secured thereto as by rivets 24, the same being preferably disposed adjacent the cross bearers or bolsters 25. Any convenient number of straps or carry irons 26 may be secured to the lower fianges of the draft sills in order to properly support the draft gear.

The yoke, however, in this form of appliance is varied for the dual purpose of accommodating the draft appliance arrangement contemplated in this application and also to accommodate the usual standard Farlow draft appliance without material change. In this form, the yoke 5G of the horizontal plane type is also shown as provided with a solid back rear end 51, as though the follower were cast integral therewith, and the front end of said yoke is hooded as at 52 and provided with aligned vertically disposed keyways 53 and 54 adapted to receive the vertically disposed key 41 for securing the coupler 22 to said yoke, permitting a slight relative movement between said coupler and yoke. The lower portion of the hood adjacent the keyway 54 is provided with a housing or support 42 depending below the yoke and provided with facing flanges 43 and 44,said fianges being adapted to support the key retaining lock-v vation asV shown in Figure 4, are provided with vertical faces 58 for permitting proper movement of said follower with respect to the yoke. In this case, the yoke is provided with keyways 59 disposed in way of the keyways 14, said keyways being adaptedto receive the key 69 passing through a suitable keyway in the follower 57 for securing said follower in operative position, the key 60 being locked in position by the usual pin and cotter connection 61. As before, the follower is provided with a forward arcuate portion 62 adapted to cooperate with the complementary arcuate surface 63 formed on the coupler shank 21.

In this embodiment, the forward end of the hooded portion of the yoke is provided with a keyway 64 which is normally not used but when the coupler 21 and the follower 57 are removed and are replaced by the standard Farlow coupler and follower, a key similar to the key 60 may be used to secure the standard follower in position, and a key may be inserted through the forward keyways l5 and 64 of the draft sills and yoke to secure theY standard coupler in operative position. So it will be noticed that should any contingency arise when the standard coupler must be used to replace the coupler illustrated, the same can be done very readily without any modifications being necessary to the vehicle.

As before, in this form the stresses are transmitted in exactly the same way as already described, from the coupler to the draft sills, this form also providing a maximum bearing area through the complementary portions 62 and 63 of the follower and coupler shank.

`.Referring now to the modifications illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, which illustrate a form of vertical plane yoke, the draft sills 1l are apertured to receive portions of the cheek plates 12 secured thereto as by rivets 13, said cheek plates having keyways 14 and 15 provided therein and preferably formed with an inwardly extending lug or boss adapted to be tted in an aper ture provided in the draft sills 1l in order to form a means to more effectively transmit stresses of buff and draft to said sills. The forward keyway 15 cooperateswith and Vis completed by a portion of the striking casting 17, which may be secured as at 18 to the end sills 19 and the floor 47, said striking casting being provided with any convenient form of bearing member 76 for supporting the coupler shank 21 of the vcoupler 22.

Back stop casting 23 is provided between the draft sills and secured thereto as by rivets 24,

yoke is provided with an enlarged hooded por-V tion` 79 providing vertical walls 80 through which way l5 of the draft sills, the forward portion of the hood adjacent the keyways 8l having an enlarged portion to form reinforcement therefor.

The hood is vertically apertured or slotted as at 82 and 83 for the reception of a pin 84 passing therethrough and through the keyway 40 in the coupler. As in the case of the horizontal plane yoke, the forward portion adjacent the elongated slot 83 is provided with a depending housing or support 85 provided with facing `flanges 85 and 87, vsaid flanges being adapted to support a key retaining locking plate 88 adapted to be inserted through the aperture between the flanges and locked` in place on said flanges by means of the removable key 89. The after portions or walls 90 and 91 of the keyways 82 and 83 are preferably sloping in order to accommodate the forward portion 92 of the follower 93.

The follower is preferably provided with portions 94 to form bearings with the yoke, said portions terminating in forwardly sloping portion 92, said portions 92 being provided with an arcug icc face of the front follower and the forward face of the back rear end of the yoke. A key 99 serves to lock the follower in operative position, said key extending through the rear keyways 14, through the keyway 100 provided in the follower, being locked in place by the usual pin and cotter connection 101.

In operation then, as before, a maximum bearing area isprovided'between the coupler and the draft sills through the coupler shank bearing with the follower.

Referring now to Figure '7, should it become necessary to replace the coupler member 21,

illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, with the standard coupler member 125, illustrated in Figure '7, it is only necessary to remove the vertical pin 84 through the housing 85 to permit removal of the coupler 22, and to remove the key 99 to thereby replace the follower 93 with the standard follower 126, after dropping the yoke, securing the rsame through the key 127 disposed in the after slots 14. It is then possible to apply the standard coupler 125, after the yoke has been replaced, securing the same in operative position through the key 128, said key passing through the forward keyways 15 and 81 of the sills and yoke respectively, and through the keyway 129 provided in the coupler shank. a very simple yet effective coupler assembly is provided which permits of ready replacement and accommodation of the usual standard coupler.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 8 to 10 inclusive as particularly applied to the yoke shown in Figure 1, it may be noticed that with the construction illustrated in Figure 1, the gear pocket is shortened and a cast steel yoke of this length may not be suitable for a longer draft gear. In order to construct a yoke which will adequately support the usual draft gear, the back rear end of the yoke may be modified as illustratedvin Figures 8, 9 and 10. In this case, the yoke 150 is widened out at its end and accommodates a follower or end of the draft gear It will be seen then that 151, said follower being preferably formed with an enlarged head for supporting engagement on the sides of said yoke, the rear end of said yoke being provided with flanges 152 adapted to straddle a part of the end of the back stop casting 23.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim: 1. In a draft assembly, the combination of draft members including a hooded yoke, a coupler pivoted to said yoke within the hooded portion thereof, va follower associated with said yoke and having an inclined portion extending into and engaging the hooded portion thereof, a portion of said follower having an arcuate surface for cooperating with a corresponding surface on said coupler and providing an arcuate bearing therefor.

2. In a draft assembly, the combination of draft sills, draft members including a yoke, a coupler having a shank extending into said yoke, cheek plates carried by said sills and having keyways formed therein, a follower retained in said yoke by a key extending through said keyways, said follower having a surface cooperating with a complementary surface on the coupler shank to provide for the transmission of bumng forces therebetween while permitting lateral angling of said coupler, and means on said yoke for maintaining said follower in its cooperating relation with said shank.

3. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, said coupler member being pivoted to said yoke member, a follower carried by said yoke and cooperating with said coupler member, said yoke having a restricted portion formed by inwardly disposed portions', said follower having a sloping portion extending through said restricted portion of said yoke and engaging therewith for maintaining said follower in its cooperating relation with said coupler.

4. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, said coupler member being pivoted to said yoke member, a follower carried by said yoke and cooperating with said coupler member, said follower having a sloping portion extending through a portion of said yoke and cooperating therewith, and means on said yoke engaging said sloping portion for maintaining said follower in its cooperating relation with said coupler member.

5. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke, said yoke being provided with spaced members having sloping surface portions, a follower carried by said yoke adapted to cooperate with said coupler member and having surface portions cooperating with said sloping surface portions for maintaining said follower in cooperating relation with said coupler member.

6. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke having a hooded end portion, means for pivotally connecting said o member to said hooded end portion, said portion having spaced members provided with inclined surface portions, a follower keyed to said yoke adapted to cooperate with said coupler member and having sloping portions engaging with the inclined surface portions of said yoke for main- CII Cil

taining said follower in its cooperating relation with said coupler member.

7. In a draft assembly, the combination of a yoke provided with vertically disposed keyways, a coupler member, a pin in said keyways for pivoting said member to said yoke, said keyways being formed with rear wall portions extending inwardly of the straps of said yoke, and a follower carried by said yoke between said straps, said follower having a forwardly extending part cooperating with said coupler member and engaging said portions whereby Ythe follower is maintained in its cooperating relation with said coupler member.

8. In a draft assembly, the combination of a yoke pro-vided with vertically disposed keyways, a coupler member, a pin in said keyways for pivoting said member to said yoke, said keyways being formed with rear wall portions extending inwardly of the straps of said yoke and having sloping surfaces, and a follower carried by said yoke cooperating with said coupler member, said follower having sloping portions entering between said wall portions and cooperating with the sloping surfaces thereof whereby the follower is maintained in its cooperating relation with said coupler member.

9. In a draft appliance, the combination of a coupler member and yoke of the plane vertical type having a hooded end portion, means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke, a follower cooperating with said coupler member, said member and follower having complementary surfaces providing substantially constant buffng area therebetween, and means on said 110 yoke cooperating with said follower for maintaining said follower in cooperating relation with said coupler member, said means including wing portions associated with said hooded end portion.

l0. In a draft appliance, the combination of 115 a coupler member and yoke, means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke, a follower cooperating with said coupler member, said follower having a sloping portion, said member and follower having complementary surfaces providing substantially constant buiiing area therebetween, and means on said yoke cooperating with said sloping portion for maintaining said follower in cooperating relation with said coupler member.

l1. In a draft appliance, the combination of a coupler member and yoke of the plane vertical type having a hooded end portion, means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke, a follower cooperating with said coupler member, said member and follower having curved surfaces for the transmission of forces therebetween while permitting lateral angling of the coupler member relative to said follower and yoke, and means Von said yoke cooperating with said follower for maintaining said follower in cooperating relation with said coupler member, said means including wall portions of said hooded end portion embracing a portion of said follower.

12. In a draft appliance, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, means for pivotally connecting said member to said yoke, a follower cooperating with said coupler member, said follower having a sloping portion, said member and 145 follower having curved surfaces for the transmission of forces therebetween while permitting lateral angling of the coupler member relative to said follower and yoke, and means on said yoke cooperating with said sloping portion for main- 15C taining said follower in cooperating relation with said coupler member.

13. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, said yoke including spaced strap members terminating in a forward hooded end portion, said hooded end having thickened portions extending inwardly of said strap members, said hooded end being formed with wings, and a follower between said wings and cooperating with said coupler member, said follower being formed with plane bearing surfaces cooperating with said strap members and having a portion receivable between said thickened portions.

14. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, said yoke including spaced strap members terminating in a forward hooded end portion, said hooded end having thickened portions extending inwardly of said strap members and having chamfered rear end portions, said hooded end being formed with wings, and a follower between said wings and cooperating with said coupler member, said follower being provided with plane bearing surfaces f: cooperating with said strap members, and having a tapered portion receivable between said thickened portions.

15. In a draft assembly, the combination of a coupler member and yoke, said yoke including spaced strap members terminating in a forward hooded end portion, said hooded end having thickened portions extending inwardly of said strap members and having chamfered rear end portions, said hooded end being formed with wings, and a follower between said wings, said coupler and follower having curved cooperating surfaces for the transmission of forces therebetween while permitting lateral angling of the coupler relative to the follower and yoke, said follower being provided with plane bearing surfaces cooperating with said strap members, and having a tapered portion receivable between said thickened portions.

16. In a draft appliance, the combination of a yoke, said yoke having a vertical keyway and a horizontal keyway, a coupler member keyed to said vertical keyway and a follower cooperating with said coupler member keyed to a horizontal keyway, and means including portions extending inwardly from the strap portions of said yoke for main-taining said follower in its cooperating relation with said coupler member.

EDMUND P. KINNE. FRANK H. KAYLER. 

